"One of the best breakfast

VAMPIRE WEEKEND will make a much-anticipated return to the Eden Sessions to play the first show of the year on June 24 with special guests Broken Bells.

The New York indie quartet first played against the backdrop of the biomes in 2008. They were the special guests of The Raconteurs at what many consider to be one of the best Eden Sessions in the gigs' nine-year history.

Famed for their sunny African and classically-influenced tunes peppered with literary and historical references, Vampire Weekend hit the Top 20 in the UK with their self-titled, self-produced debut album in January 2008.

The record went platinum and the singles Oxford Comma, Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa, A-Punk and Mansard Roof became an integral part of the soundtrack to the year.

This January saw the release of the band's second record, Contra, which reached number three in the UK album chart, topped the US chart and has so far spawned the singles Cousins and Giving Up The Gun.

Broken Bells are an indie-rock duo comprising Brian Burton (otherwise known as Danger Mouse of Gnarls Barkley fame) and James Mercer, lead singer and guitarist with The Shins. The group released their self-titled debut last month to critical acclaim and a Top 10 placing in the US charts.

James takes on vocals, guitars and bass duties while Brian plays organ, drums, piano, synths and bass. The pair play all the instruments on the album with the exception of a full string section arranged by Daniele Luppi.

Tjarko Wieringa, Eden Sessions Creative Director, said: "We're thrilled to be welcoming Vampire Weekend back to Eden after they played such a magnificent set here two years ago. We're also in the privileged position to be able to showcase Broken Bells, a collaboration between one of the best producers in the world and the singer-songwriter of The Shins, one of the finest indie bands of recent years. What a fantastic way to kick off a summer of live music at Eden!"

Vampire Weekend and Broken Bells join a stellar Sessions line-up, which also features Jack Johnson and Mojave 3 (June 26 – sold out), Mika (June 27), Doves and Mumford & Sons (July 2 – sold out), a dance extravaganza with Calvin Harris, Annie Mac, Audio Bullys and Reverend Soundsystem (July 3) and Paolo Nutini and Martha Wainwright (July 13 – sold out).

Tickets for the Vampire Weekend and Broken Bells Session go on general release at 6pm on Tuesday. They are priced at £35 plus booking fee.

To buy tickets call the Eden box office on 01726 811972.

WANT to be scared witless on Flora Day? Then the Epworth Hall may well be the place for you.

The Coinagehall Street venue, behind the town's Methodist Church, is to temporarily become the Hells Asylum.

This, said the man with the idea, local actor Darren Garraghan, will be the first of its kind in the county.

He said: "It is a live action horror maze, where guests will roam the terrifying halls and rooms of the Asylum hoping they do not bump into any escaped inmates."

Ten local actors and actresses have been engaged to provide some of the scares.

Darren came up with the idea after working in Scream! in Madame Tussauds in London.

"I decided that Cornwall needed an attraction of this kind."

Live Scare Attractions have become very popular over the last couple of years; they first appeared in American theme parks over the Halloween season but have since become so successful there are many which now stay open all year round including The London Dungeons and Pasaje Del Terror in London.

Darren added: "A troop of 10 local actors will be employed and trained in how to scare members of the public as they become the inmates.

"This is a trial and if it is successful there are plans afoot for something even bigger in October half-term."

Darren did not want to give too much detail away as he did not want to spoil the surprise.

The Asylum gate will be open between noon and 7pm; entry will be £5 per person with discount for large groups.

WHAT'S ON favourite and Launceston one-man band (even though he is soon to unleash a full band line-up) Patrick James Pearson has made it through to the Red Stripe Music Award final.

He is one of four talented bands chosen to play alongside The View at Heaven in Charing Cross on Wednesday, April 28.

The four finalists were picked from over 150 bands that have played around the UK since January 2009.

As well as PJP, who played the Truro heat, the other finalists are Come On Gang! from Edinburgh, Hold Fast from Portsmouth and Laurel Collective from Manchester.

Niall Doherty, of The Fly magazine, said: "Patrick James Pearson stood out for his quirky charisma, the indelible indie-pop hooks of his songs loaded with an energetic tongue-in-cheek delivery. I wish him all the best at the final – if anything, his looks like it might be the most attention-grabbing performance of the evening…"

This year's winner will play slots at three top UK festivals (The Great Escape, Lovebox and Blissfields).

Scottish indie rockers, The View, will be finishing the night off with a special guest performance from last year's winner Ben Howard, from Falmouth.

In three out of the four years the Red Stripe awards have been running Cornwall has fielded a finalist (Rosie and the Goldbug in 2007 was the other one), which is testament to the musical prowess of the county.

Here's hoping Patrick repeats Ben's success.

JAMES MORRISON will be performing at the Hall for Cornwall on July 19.

This concert is different to any other he has previously played in Cornwall, as he has chosen to make it a charity event and will be donating his fee to The Tanya's Courage Trust – Supporting Young People With Cancer.

Nikki Empel-Newman, trust manager of the Tanya's Courage Trust, said: "We are so grateful to James for him choosing to support our charity. It really is such an amazing thing for us, and we are very excited."

James – who spent his teenage years in Porth and attended Treviglas Community College in Newquay – has enjoyed a string of hit singles and two successful albums, Undiscovered and Songs For You, Truths For Me .

Tickets are available from www.NationLive.co.uk

PORT ISAAC'S Fisherman's Friends will play a free show and meet fans at HMV's Truro store on Thursday, April 29, at 5pm.

The 10-strong sea shanty group will be celebrating the release of their debut album Port Isaac's Fisherman's Friends.

The event will begin with a live performance, after which the band will remain in store to meet fans and sign copies of the new album, which is officially released through Universal on Monday. They have been performing together since 1995, and signed to Universal in March. Their self-titled debut was recorded in a 15th century church in St Kew.

● Before that you can see Fisherman's Friends along with Rum & Shrub, Falmouth Shout, The Falmouth Fish, Sea Shanty Collective, Stamp & Go and Richard Burgess at Perranporth's Shout – a sea songs and shanties festival – at the Watering Hole on Sunday from 1pm.

IT'S TESTAMENT to the quality of Cornish music that three of our acts have made the last 20 of the Red Stripe Music Award.

Patrick James Pearson, Marble Fairy, All the Fires – all from Cornwall – and The Iconyx – from Devon – have all made it to the short-list from 150 bands who played 27 heats across the country who may get a chance to play alongside Scottish indie rockers, The View at the Red Stripe Music Award Final at London's Heaven, Charing Cross on Wednesday, April 28.

All three Cornish finalists played the What's On stage at the Gig in the Gardens in Truro (which unfortunately is unlikely to go ahead this year) last August.

What's On editor Lee Trewhela said: "Fingers crossed that one of the Cornish acts gets to the final – they all deserve to be there. Marble Fairy are a dance party explosion while All The Fires make the sort of folk rock that is in vogue at the moment, and Patrick James Pearson is quite simply the most awe-inspiring Cornish musician I've seen in years."

The four acts from Cornwall and Devon that have made it through to the last 20 played at heats in both Truro and Porthtowan.

With slots at three of the summer's major festivals including The Great Escape guaranteed for the winner, the Red Stripe Music Award looks to offer talented musicians a platform to get themselves noticed by both the public and the music industry.

Arising Artist will also offer consultancy support to each of the short-listed bands.

SUPERSTAR DJ Annie Mac and Jon McClure's Reverend Soundsystem will play a dance extravaganza at the Eden Sessions on July 3, joining Calvin Harris and Audio Bullys in a stacked line-up.

Annie is an acclaimed DJ, hosting nights at some of the world's top clubs and presenting a prestigious Friday evening Radio One show. She also co-hosts a Sunday evening show on the station with Nick Grimshaw.

Reverend Soundsystem, the dance wing of Sheffield indie rockers Reverend and the Makers, complete the blockbuster line-up. Frontman Jon McClure started the Soundsystem as a monthly club night at Sheffield's The Plug and now tours festivals and clubs around the country. The Soundsytem will be playing on the Cape Farewell stage in the Mediterannean Biome.

Calvin Harris is one of the most exciting and successful UK dance artists. His two solo albums – I Created Disco and the UK number one Ready for the Weekend – have featured the singles Acceptable in the 80s, The Girls, chart-topper I'm Not Alone and the title track from his second record.

Audio Bullys, also known as Simon Franks and Tom Dinsdale, released their 2003 debut Ego War to huge acclaim and a top 20 chart position and followed it in 2005 with Generation. The latter featured probably their most famous tune to date – the Nancy Sinatra-sampling Shot You Down. Following a hiatus, Audio Bullys released their long-anticipated third album Higher Than the Eiffel at the end of last month, with the promise of an exciting live show to accompany it.

Tickets for the Calvin Harris, Annie Mac, Audio Bullys and Reverend Soundsystem Session are on sale now, priced at £35 plus booking fee.

To buy tickets visit www.edensessions.com or call the Eden box office on 01726 811972.

What's On has teamed up with the Eden Project to give away five pairs of tickets to this dance extravaganza. To be in with a chance to win answer this simple question.

On which Radio station does Annie Mac have a show?

Send your answer, marked Eden to whatsoncornwall@c-dm.co.uk by Wednesday, April 21. Usual rules apply – see Notices for full details.

THIS spring heralds the launch of the first, and currently only, Museum of British Folklore within the main Gatehouse of the beautiful Port Eliot House at St Germans in Cornwall.

Tucked away in this secret corner of South East Cornwall will be the country's most comprehensive museum dedicated to the weird and wonderful artifacts, ephemera, costumes and images that document not only the history but the living tradition of Britain's annual and seasonal customs in all their archaic glory.

Visitors to this enchanting house and gardens will be able to view the folklore, superstitions and myths of the area and hear the intriguing story of the dissolute 14th century priest, Dando of St Germans.

This fascinating museum will also explore the supposed origins of the Helston Furry Dance, the Padstow Obby Oss and the meaning of 'Crying the Neck'.

Corn dollies specific to the area, such as the St Neot Dolly and the Polzeath Dolly, will be on display among other peculiar and astonishing artifacts celebrating British customs and folklore from across the country.

The driving creative force behind the Museum of British Folklore is Simon Costin, an internationally respected art director and designer renowned for his conceptually ambitious work as an artist, which has been exhibited in venues as diverse as a forest in Argyll and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Costin has been busy at work creating theatrical and bespoke displays for the museum, and has a team making corn dollies and mini Morris Dancer suits especially for the Port Eliot exhibition.

The museum will be a highly personal selection of objects and programming, as exceptional and strange as the subject matter it pays tribute to. There will be all the signs of an institutional authority – meticulous presentation, exhaustive captions and hushed lighting. However, under Costin's direction, alluring displays and novel lighting effects usually associated with an art installation will work to subvert the traditional way in which items are presented.

Costin has a lifelong obsession with the strange world of British Folklore and as there is no National Museum chronicling the origins of this fascinating world, he decided to start a museum of his own.

As a child, Costin devoured the information in his parents' copy of Folklore, Myths and Legends of Britain, published by the Readers Digest in the mid-sixties. Inside its black, embossed covers, was a rich and magical world of green men, stone circles, witches, giants, haunted houses and seasonal customs. Single-handedly, it engendered his passionate interest in the folklore traditions of these Islands.

Many of his family holidays were spent in the British Isles, and particularly in Devon, where his mother was evacuated during the war. When he was seven, they visited St Ives in Cornwall, and wandered around a tiny museum filled with Victorian toys and penny slot machines. Dotted among the exhibits were fine examples of the British Vernacular arts: Corn dollies, Staffordshire figurines, Nailsea glass canes and horse brasses. Sadly, the museum no longer exists. However, Simon's memory of his visit to it has remained. He remembers: "I have only to smell patchouli oil to conjure the memory of the museum's owner; her mane of black hair, and her dark, smoky eye make-up. She was a veritable siren from a silent movie as she showed me, wide-eyed, around her magic kingdom, painstakingly explaining the exhibits to a child filled with wonder at the sight of them."

In order to raise awareness of his museum project Costin purchased a 1976 Castleton Caravan, painted it in bright colours and fitted the interior with a series of display cases to exhibit artifacts and images associated with the customs and traditions of the British Isles. He then undertook a highly successful five-month tour of the UK with the mini, mobile version of his vision for the Museum of British Folklore.

In July 2009 the mobile museum paid a visit to the Port Eliot Festival and went down a storm with festivalgoers. So much so, that this year Port Eliot House has given the Museum its first bricks and mortar home.

For further information on the Museum of British Folklore visit www.museumofbritishfolklore.com

Cornwall Council's Garras Wharf car park in Truro is the venue for Cornwall's first Art Car Boot on Sunday 11 April from 11am – 3pm.

Organised by Totally Truro and Event Cornwall with support from Cornwall Council's Creative Services team, the event is part of 'Art in the City', a weeklong annual arts festival taking place from Tuesday 6 - Sunday 11 April and involving open spaces and galleries across the city of Truro.

The Art Car Boot is the first event of its kind for Truro and invites you to grab yourself a real art bargain and uncover some hidden treasures and affordable art.

Over 30 artists are expected to show off their wares with no piece of work priced over £100.

Sasha Dobrota from Cornwall Council Creative Services who has been working on the project says: "Here is a great opportunity to meet local artists, drink some tea or just mingle in the creative bustle."

There will be face painters to keep the children amused and refreshments will be available.

Entrance Fee £1 per person.

Pitches for artists who want to sell their work: £5 in advance or £7.50 on the day.

For more information contact amy@eventcornwall.co.uk, or call 01872 888089.​

THE first acts have been announced for this year's Leopallooza, which will again be held at Week St Mary, near Bude, on July 31

THE KING BLUES will be closing the show on the mainstage. With a new album set for release later this year expect old and new material, all guaranteed to suit the booze-fuelled moves that seem so popular in the 'pallooza field at that time of the evening.

ELIZA DOOLITTLE has already secured her place on radio with her debut single Skinny Genes, on the A list at Radio 2 with regular spins on Radio 1 and 6Music.

Roots-punk, hard twang, hillbilly punk-skiffle band CRAZY ARM are a phenomenal live band as audiences across Europe are witnessing on their support tour with Frank Turner.

LITTLE FISH have a front woman who should be up there with the best in the business. Attitude-fuelled two-piece who the Leopallooza people have wanted to see in the field for a long time.

EX LOVERS – the idea of a sunshine-filled afternoon with this swooning indie pop ensemble is something to look forward to; beautiful melodies with vocal harmonies lifted from the good old days of summer.

Tickets will be on sale soon at £20 for the day and night.